1994 Ford Explorer XLT review from North America

Alternator at 206,000 miles

Transmission at 119,000 miles (which really has nothing to do with the explorer at all)

4 wheel drive motor at 211,000

Head gaskets at 91,000

Water pump at 200,000 miles flat

A/C needed recharging at 131,000 miles

routine maintenance.

This is an example of a well engineered, well built vehicle. It surpasses my expectations over and over again. When it was new, it was a VERY nice, solid car. It is still that way today. If there's one thing that has stood out to me in these past years, it's the attention to detail. How many cars do you find today where the power locks/window plates (not buttons) are METAL. This gives off a good, solid feel.

Mine's forest green with grey leather interior, and that's all perfecto. When I bought it, me and 3 friends drove to my father's house, where he has a shop with every tool imaginable. There, we took the engine from one of my friend's totalled mustang with the 5.0 and swapped the original engine for it. The entire process took about a week, and some good welding done by me. Since the Mustang was an automatic, we took the transmission also, which fitted perfectly fine. All that was left to do was take it into a professional shop and have them wire everything. Having it done at a shop enabled the 4 wheel drive to still be operated as standard, which was a major bonus, as I was worried about compatibility issues. That was a fun project, and I want to do something like that again. A few years after I bought it, I took it in to interior specialists in my area and had them install a custom wood trim kit. On the original door panels, above the handle, there's a line that travels the full length of the door. Below this line, on all doors, is a solid peice of wood, different from any out there. Wood also covers door handles, dashboard (also in a custom cut way, not just aslap on over plastic), the center console, grab handles, and steering wheel. Since then the thing has looked like a Lexus on the inside.

She has been, and always will be, my daily driver for as long as it lives. It is very reliable, but I can't put this as a testemant to reliability of other explorers engine-wise. The actual vehicle its self has proven very durable and comfortable, with no problems pertaining to the body. Because of my work and how well appointed everything is, Ford has even commended me for it. I've had many people offer me $5,000-$10,000 for it, but I don't think I will be selling it any time soon.